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Benny was not his given name at birth. What were his real first names?

Alfred Hawthorn. He was born and named Alfred Hawthorn Hill after his father. He entered this world on 21 January 1924. He took the stage name Benny after one of his heroes, Jack Benny.

Where was Benny born, and spent the first few years of his life?

Southampton. Benny was born in January 1924, in Southampton. There he attended Tauntons School with his brother. He was evacuated during the war to Bournemouth.

After he left school, Benny worked as a milkman.

t. He really did work as a milkman in his early years. Some of his other jobs included being a bridge operator, driver and a drummer. His entry into the world of entertainment was as an assistant stage manager.

Benny's first professional job in theatre was as a straight man for Reg Varney. Which later, famous, actor did he beat for the job?

Peter Sellers. Believe it or not, Benny got the job ahead of, the then unknown, Peter Sellers. Before landing this role he had auditioned for, and been tuned down at, The Windmill Theatre.

How many times was Benny married?

0. Benny proposed to two different women, but was turned down by both of them. He also never owned his own home or a car. For many years he lived with his mother, who died shortly before he passed away.

In the song Ernie, his rival was from Teddington. Benny also lived in Teddington.

t. He rented a property not far from the Thames TV studios where most of the filming for his TV shows took place. Prior to this, he had lived in the town of his birth, Southampton.

In which year did Benny make his first television appearance?

1949. Hard as it may be to believe, his first TV appearance was in the show 'Hi There' which was broadcast as far back as 1949. The first showing of 'The Benny Hill Show' was on BBC in 1955.

Shortly before his death, Benny was diagnosed with renal failure. This, however, did not kill him. What was the cause of his death?

Coronary thrombosis. Just before he died Benny was seriously overweight. His doctor advised him to lose at least 28 pounds and to have a heart bypass. He refused. The renal failure was diagnosed a week later.

Benny hill passed away sad and lonely. On which date did he die?

Unknown. The exact date of Benny's death is not known. It is thought that he passed away sometime over Easter weekend 1992. On the 21st of April that year, neighbours called the police who found him dead in front of his TV.

After his death, how was his estate divided?

It went to his nieces and nephews.. Benny's estate was worth an estimated £10 million. His will stated that his estate should go to his parents. They, however, had died. Next in line to inherit were his brother and sister, but they had also pre-deceased him. His estate was finally divided up among his nieces and nephews. A note was found at the time giving large amounts to some of his closest friends, but it was neither signed nor witnessed.